As the Democrats and Republicans duke it out with one austerity “solution” after another, one would think we live in a country with only two political parties.

Faced with such stark choices, the majority of Americans are running in abject fear to the Democrats. “We have to vote for Obama,” they say. “Yes, he wants to subsidize nuclear power. Yes, he lauded the completion of the lower stretch of the Keystone XL pipeline. Yes, Monsanto rules the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, CitiBank runs the Treasury Department, and Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan’s stated goal is to convert all of America’s public schools to corporate charter schools. But the Republicans are so extreme, we don’t have a choice. We have to vote for Obama…”

In all fairness, I understand and acknowledge the concerns people have for what could happen if the Republican agenda were implemented, but the reality is that the real and most pressing threat the entire world faces is climate change, and the policies of the Obama administration for averting irreversible global warming are clearly inadequate, at best.

We cannot afford to wait any longer for dramatic change in energy production, manufacturing practices, agriculture, resource management, transportation. And we need well-educated, highly skilled people to carry out those changes. We all know this. But knowing is not enough. We need to take action, we need to take it now, and we need to show the same courage we’ve seen on the streets in Egypt, Syria, and Bahrain, in Madison, Wisconsin, in Oakland and on Wall Street.

We need to occupy our very government and the elections that bring them to power. And we need to do it courageously, in spite of our fears. That is exactly what Jill Stein is doing, and she is inspiring others to do the same.

Jill Stein is the leading candidate for the Green Party nomination for president. She has won all eleven presidential primaries to date in landslide victories and was recently endorsed by Noam Chomsky. She is a medical doctor, an award-winning researcher and tireless advocate for environmental health policy. Her campaign is rooted in solutions to the current economic and environmental crises with the Green New Deal at the heart of her platform. Science-based and thoroughly researched, the Green New Deal creates jobs while simultaneously solving environmental problems. And it grants local control to each community to choose which programs will best meet its needs.

All of Humboldt is invited to meet Jill and find out what the corporate parties and the mainstream media do not want you to know: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are not the only candidates for president, and there are real, practical solutions to the most serious problems our nation, and the world, face today.

Jill Stein will speak in Eureka and Arcata:

• Tuesday, May 8, 6:30 p.m.: House party at 1402 M St. (corner of 14th) in Eureka.

"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease." Worldwatch Institute, "Is Meat Sustainable?"

"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency." UN Food and Agricultural Organization's report "Livestock's Long Shadow".

“If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains… the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” Environmental Defense Fund.

"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease." Worldwatch Institute, "Is Meat Sustainable?"

"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency." UN Food and Agricultural Organization's report "Livestock's Long Shadow".

“If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains… the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” Environmental Defense Fund.

"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease." Worldwatch Institute, "Is Meat Sustainable?"

"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency." UN Food and Agricultural Organization's report "Livestock's Long Shadow".

“If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains… the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” Environmental Defense Fund.

"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease." Worldwatch Institute, "Is Meat Sustainable?"

"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency." UN Food and Agricultural Organization's report "Livestock's Long Shadow".

“If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains… the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” Environmental Defense Fund.

"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease." Worldwatch Institute, "Is Meat Sustainable?"

"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency." UN Food and Agricultural Organization's report "Livestock's Long Shadow".

“If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains… the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” Environmental Defense Fund.

"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease." Worldwatch Institute, "Is Meat Sustainable?"

"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency." UN Food and Agricultural Organization's report "Livestock's Long Shadow".

“If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains… the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” Environmental Defense Fund.

IMHO, just about the most pressing problem is: THE DEMOCRATS. They throw out a few crumbs to this or that group, knowing they don't have to do any more than that because of "the threat" posed by "the republicans". At least the republicans don't even really try to sweet-talk us – they KNOW we won't vote for them. And if the Dems run a really lousy campaign (which is their pattern, for the most part), and lose, they blame US. IT WAS NOT RALPH NADER'S FAULT GORE LOST…it was GORE'S. The Dems have become indistinguishable from the Repubs, and no further evidence needs to be offered than that facist NDAA law that was signed by that "champion of liberty", Barack Obama.

IMHO, just about the most pressing problem is: THE DEMOCRATS. They throw out a few crumbs to this or that group, knowing they don't have to do any more than that because of "the threat" posed by "the republicans". At least the republicans don't even really try to sweet-talk us – they KNOW we won't vote for them. And if the Dems run a really lousy campaign (which is their pattern, for the most part), and lose, they blame US. IT WAS NOT RALPH NADER'S FAULT GORE LOST…it was GORE'S. The Dems have become indistinguishable from the Repubs, and no further evidence needs to be offered than that facist NDAA law that was signed by that "champion of liberty", Barack Obama.

IMHO, just about the most pressing problem is: THE DEMOCRATS. They throw out a few crumbs to this or that group, knowing they don't have to do any more than that because of "the threat" posed by "the republicans". At least the republicans don't even really try to sweet-talk us – they KNOW we won't vote for them. And if the Dems run a really lousy campaign (which is their pattern, for the most part), and lose, they blame US. IT WAS NOT RALPH NADER'S FAULT GORE LOST…it was GORE'S. The Dems have become indistinguishable from the Repubs, and no further evidence needs to be offered than that facist NDAA law that was signed by that "champion of liberty", Barack Obama.

IMHO, just about the most pressing problem is: THE DEMOCRATS. They throw out a few crumbs to this or that group, knowing they don't have to do any more than that because of "the threat" posed by "the republicans". At least the republicans don't even really try to sweet-talk us – they KNOW we won't vote for them. And if the Dems run a really lousy campaign (which is their pattern, for the most part), and lose, they blame US. IT WAS NOT RALPH NADER'S FAULT GORE LOST…it was GORE'S. The Dems have become indistinguishable from the Repubs, and no further evidence needs to be offered than that facist NDAA law that was signed by that "champion of liberty", Barack Obama.

IMHO, just about the most pressing problem is: THE DEMOCRATS. They throw out a few crumbs to this or that group, knowing they don't have to do any more than that because of "the threat" posed by "the republicans". At least the republicans don't even really try to sweet-talk us – they KNOW we won't vote for them. And if the Dems run a really lousy campaign (which is their pattern, for the most part), and lose, they blame US. IT WAS NOT RALPH NADER'S FAULT GORE LOST…it was GORE'S. The Dems have become indistinguishable from the Repubs, and no further evidence needs to be offered than that facist NDAA law that was signed by that "champion of liberty", Barack Obama.

IMHO, just about the most pressing problem is: THE DEMOCRATS. They throw out a few crumbs to this or that group, knowing they don't have to do any more than that because of "the threat" posed by "the republicans". At least the republicans don't even really try to sweet-talk us – they KNOW we won't vote for them. And if the Dems run a really lousy campaign (which is their pattern, for the most part), and lose, they blame US. IT WAS NOT RALPH NADER'S FAULT GORE LOST…it was GORE'S. The Dems have become indistinguishable from the Repubs, and no further evidence needs to be offered than that facist NDAA law that was signed by that "champion of liberty", Barack Obama.

IMHO, just about the most pressing problem is: THE DEMOCRATS. They throw out a few crumbs to this or that group, knowing they don't have to do any more than that because of "the threat" posed by "the republicans". At least the republicans don't even really try to sweet-talk us – they KNOW we won't vote for them. And if the Dems run a really lousy campaign (which is their pattern, for the most part), and lose, they blame US. IT WAS NOT RALPH NADER'S FAULT GORE LOST…it was GORE'S. The Dems have become indistinguishable from the Repubs, and no further evidence needs to be offered than that facist NDAA law that was signed by that "champion of liberty", Barack Obama.